diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/ServiceSynchronize.java b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/ServiceSynchronize.java
index 3aea8a97..a9744f66 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/ServiceSynchronize.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/ServiceSynchronize.java
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.LifecycleService;
 import androidx.lifecycle.Observer;
 import androidx.localbroadcastmanager.content.LocalBroadcastManager;
 
+import static android.os.Process.THREAD_PRIORITY_BACKGROUND;
+
 public class ServiceSynchronize extends LifecycleService {
     private final Object lock = new Object();
     private ServiceManager serviceManager = new ServiceManager();
@@ -1451,6 +1453,7 @@ public class ServiceSynchronize extends LifecycleService {
                     }
                 }
             }, "sync.main");
+            main.setPriority(THREAD_PRIORITY_BACKGROUND); // will be inherited
             main.start();
         }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/SimpleTask.java b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/SimpleTask.java
index 581f45ab..2396849a 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/SimpleTask.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/SimpleTask.java
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.LifecycleOwner;
 import androidx.lifecycle.LifecycleService;
 import androidx.lifecycle.OnLifecycleEvent;
 
+import static android.os.Process.THREAD_PRIORITY_BACKGROUND;
+
 //
 // This simple task is simple to use, but it is also simple to cause bugs that can easily lead to crashes
 // Make sure to not access any member in any outer scope from onLoad
@@ -50,6 +52,7 @@ public abstract class SimpleTask<T> implements LifecycleObserver {
 
     static {
         handlerThread = new HandlerThread("SimpleTask");
+        handlerThread.setPriority(THREAD_PRIORITY_BACKGROUND);
         handlerThread.start();
         handler = new Handler(handlerThread.getLooper());
     }